Book Recommendations
Restart
By Gordon Norman
Restart follows a boy named Chase Ambrose, a popular bully who falls off his roof and gets amnesia. Forgetting who he was before the fall, Chase has to rediscover his old life and decide who he is going to be in his new life, but can his former victims ever forgive him for who he use to be?
“Falling on my head was the best thing to ever happen to me ”
Isn’t this such a cool premise? The story is so moving and teaches that even without a bonk on the head, you really can turn your life around, if you are willing to change.
The story is written in multiple points of view including Chase Ambrose, his bully friends and his previous victims at school. Kids can relate to at least one person in this book, because there are so many incredible characters. It’s also a great introduction in reading multiple POV books, because this is very fast pace and has straight forward writing.
Nevermoor: The Trails Of Morrigan Crow
By Jessica Townsend
This book follows Morrigan, a cursed child, who is doomed to die on her 11th birthday. Even though Morrigan has excepted her fate, she is whisked away at the last moment, to a magical city called Nevermoor, where she must compete in dangerous trails in or to join the Wunderous Society.
“Things happen in life all the time. unexpected things. Things you couldn’t possibly expect because they’re so very... unexpected.”
I adore the themes of self worth shown through this story, Morrigan is a “cursed chid” and she believes that everyone bad that happens around her, is her fault. She learns self-worth and belonging for the first time in her life. The world-building is impeccable and immersive. One of those worlds that makes you wish you could just live there yourself.
This is book 1 of 3 in the Nevermoor series. It is 500 pages, which can be steep for middle grade, but once you get into it, you won’t want to get out.
Maybe a Mermaid
By Josephine Cameron
This book follows an 11 year old girl named Anthoni, who spends the summer at a run-down lakeside resort. She’s got a goal of making a “true blue friend” while she’s there, but also finds herself investigating local mermaid rumors.
“Mermaids don’t lose sleep over the opinions of shrimp.”
This has, what I think, is one of the most important themes a middle grade book can have, and that is the expectations kids have when it comes to making friends. Of course we want to be friends with the cool, popular girl. Why wouldn’t we? But making a true friend, rather than forced friend, is always SO much better. I think learning this lesson before going into Junior High is so important.
There is some magical realism, tolling the line between believing in mermaids, and being more in touch with reality as we get older. This book is 300 pages and targeted for 8-11 year old girls.
A Wrinkle In Time
By Madeleine L’englue
This book follow 13-year-old Meg Murry, her genius brother Charles Wallace and friend Calvin O’keefe on an interstellar journey to rescue her physicist father from a dark, evil force that is called “IT”
“People are more than just the way they look. ”
This is a classic that should never be forgotten. Meg’s journey to realizing how special she truly is and how her own power is what will end up saving them all in the end, is so beautiful.
Though this book is older and the language is a bit different, it is still very accessible for MG readers and offers a great introduction to older books.
Considerations:
There are mentions of God throughout the story, though it doesn't not dominate the story in any way.
There are some intense and scary scenes.
Ghost Squad
By Claribel A. Ortega
Lucely Luna sees her deceased family as firefly ghosts, but when those ghost start to fade, Lucely and her best friend Syd set out to save them, but accidentally unleash evil spirits. They must team up with Syd’s witchy grandma to stop the spirts, and save Lucile’s home of ghost relatives.
“It’s painless to die, Lucely. It’s peaceful. what hurts the most is watching those you loved in life mourn you in death. It’s enough to break a heart. ”
This book is very sweet and so much fun. Lucely and Syd offer a beautiful friendship, and we see themes of family, self importance and death.
The book has spooky vibes without being too scary. There are friendly ghost, ghost that are just going about their day, and evil ghosts. try Indiana Jones meets Stranger Things
Considerations:
Somewhat scary scenes of “evil spirits”
Candle Island
By Lauren Wolk
Lucretia and her mother have come to Candle Island in Maine to escape the memories of her fathers death and escape the journalist that hound her mother, a famous reclusive artist. Lucretia dedicates her summer days painting, exploring the island and caring for an orphaned osprey chick.
Lucretia has a secret, but Candle Island has secrets of its own. A hidden room in her new house, a mysterious boy with a beautiful voice and just like the strong tides that surround the shores, they will catch Lucretia in their wake.
“There’s something sad about everyone, Lucey don’t ever think otherwise.”
This is a beautiful story with an incredible twist at the end. the book explores themes of grief, belonging and self acceptance. Lucretia is one of my favorite middle grade characters I have ever read and I wanted to spend more time with her. The book explores strong and compelling themes in a way that is accessible to children and for that, I am in awe.
Considerations: A group of bullies stick burs in her horses ears. The horse in quickly tended to and okay, but we worry about Lucretia’s animals often as these awful bullies try to get back at her.